Plasma Cutter???

[Sam Vastano]

Group,

I am looking to get a Plasma cutter and I was wondering what brand you bought and your experience with it. I have looked at Lotos, Primeweld, Yeswelder, Bestarc, Cuwiny. I want to keep the price under 1000.00 as not to break the bank and I will only use it occasionally on the farm. I do have torches for the really thick steel but compressed gas is getting so expensive I was thinking over time this coule be a cost savings. Any thoughts would be appreciated!

 

[Loosehandle]

I have a Thermal Dynamics cut master 51, had it nearly 20 years and no problems. Id look for one that claims to cut 3/4 anyway. There is still cost to run as the consumables at the tip have to be replaced, more often when doing junkyard type work rather than new material.

 

[jimgraycase]

I have a thermal dynamics plasma cutter, use mine all the time, works great, consumables are cheap, unlike other brands, I installed an air dryer on mine and reduced the cutting tip failure, I would take a look at thermal dynamics, for years of use and low Maintenace.

 

[wp6529]

Hypertherm is pretty much the best, my Powermax 1000 is still going strong.

 

[Steve in VA]

Put me in the Thermal Dynamic camp. So old I've forgotten what model it is w/o looking. Only thing beyond consumables is the main power switch just replaced.

 

[DoubleO7]

(reply to post at 11:35:24 12/01/23)

Don't forget the dry compressed air requirements.

Some cutters have built-in compressor.

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

Thermal Dynamics, Hypertherm don't exactly meet that <$1000 budget.

I bought an "Arccaptain" from Amazon for <$300. Heard and seen many good things about it. Unfortunately it's still in the box on the kitchen floor. Just no time or pressing need to set it up.

My old plasma cutter was a Harbor Freight Central Electric. It worked well but will no longer strike an arc. I've been told that it can be fixed, but the Arccaptain is a higher-capacity 50A vs. the 40A Harbor Freight.

 

[Centerplate]

I bought a Harbor Freight Vulcan for about $900. I added on an extra air dryer to save on tip replacement. You need to grind a spot to attach the ground clamp. The machine does not like a poor ground. I cuts fast on thin material and slower on thicker iron. To cut heavy metal you will need a more expensive machine. Mine also works on 120 volts, but it cuts much slower.

 

[timcasbolt]

I have a 40A Simadre (el cheapo ebay chicom junk). It does work though, and I hardly ever need to use oxygen anymore, so for my occasional use (couple times a year), it's adequate.

 

[caterpillar guy]

What amperage is needed to cut 3/4-1inch plate. I would like to find one that would cut that thickness. Light stuff by the time you clean it up with a grinder to weld you might as well just use a cut off wheel and not have to clean it up. I use my torch for heating things and some cutting on heavier material. 1/4 inch and less I just use a cut off wheel anymore faster by the time you clean up the slag and what not on it.

 

[Janicholson]

80 amps will cut 3/4 aluminum or steel. Hypertherm is my favorite. ESAB also good. Jim

 

[glennster]

i have the thermal dynamics pak 5xt plasma cutter. older machine. if i remember i paid 1600 for the unit. it is a 1/2 inch capacity machine. check price and availability of consumables befor selecting a machine. a 1 inch capacity machine is on the spendy side. here is a link to the bigger capacity machines
poke here

 

[DoubleO7]

Have you seen what the plasma cut looks like by somebody who knows what they are doing?

Also, pretty tough to cut a round hole with a grinder.

 

[wp6529]

60A will cut 3/4" steel. My Powermax 1000 is 60A and rated 3/4" cut 1" sever and I have on occasion cut that thick with it.

 

[Sam Vastano]

Double07,

That is exactly why I want a plasma cutter. I struggle with anything other than strait cuts when I am trying to fabricate a part for a piece of farm equipment. I know a lot of the responses are for Thermal Dynamics and Hypertherm but I am not sure I can justify 2-3000 or more for something I will use probably 4-6 times a year. Do the cheaper ones give you good results or am I wasting my money?

 

[dr sportster]

Cut on CNC plasma table

 

[DoubleO7]

(reply to post at 20:00:53 12/01/23)

A skilled operator can make those cuts if he uses a template for the nozzle to ride in or against and consistently maintain the right speed by hand.

 

[504]

Cheap China Stuff for home use may run for years and do what you need. Hypertherm is probably the best on the market,their new cartage system is great for the consumables. One of the biggest complaints is a customer will change a tip and then the machine no longer works right. One shop was throwing a fit because they were going through tips by the day, 40 amp tip on a 80 amp machine,and it was a junk machine they claimed. There was a major machine consolidation a few years ago,the thermal dynamics we has sold for years(one in my shop right now)turned into a gigantic POC overnight. We had 4 machines that blew up in the first 30 days of use.We now sell Hypertherm and have not had one warranty claim. For home use and on a budget, I would gamble on a cheap china one.

 

[504]

And buy the air dryer for your machine!!

 

[SDMike]

Sam, I bought a used Hypertherm Max43 PC in 2010 for $750 ($1800 new at the time)from a place out of Mankato MN that sold new machines AND took in used machines on trade. They gave me a 90 day warranty on it and I still use it today. Spec'd to cut 3/8, will cut up to 1/2. Check with a dealer in your area, maybe you can get the same kind of deal. As others have said, DRY AIR is very important. What ever brand you decide, MAKE SURE you can get replacement consumables.
Good Luck!

Mike